Part 12

The porter touched his hat with a grin, he was not accustomed to being called Mr. Smith, nor to hear a man-servant called a gentleman.

Then Toney began her campaign.

"How do you do? I know you are Mr. Frank Weston, because--there's no one else, is there--I've come to drive you home. I'm Toney Whitburn, so now we're introduced. Lady Dove's giving the party, but I take all the trouble. There's a fly for your man, and if you want the violin with you I'll put it behind us."

Frank Weston had been much dissatisfied with himself for accepting the munificent private offer for playing in a private house. The money had tempted him, as he had lately heard of a broken-down violinist who had nothing but the workhouse before him, and he had infinite pity for failure and poverty. For himself--now his parents were well provided for--he cared nothing at all. The one romance of his life had failed. He had loved once and once only. Jeanie Hamilton had touched his heart with her beauty and her talent, and strange to say her pride, but when her mother had told him her daughter refused his love, and had intimated that their social positions were too far removed, the genius had lifted his head more proudly than any aristocrat.

"I offered her my heart and my music," he had said, "they are worth more than anything she may possess."

"Yes, yes--you--and your genius but--your people are not our people," Mrs. Hamilton had murmured with the softness of a purring pussy.

Frank Weston's face had turned paler if possible than usual, and he walked away without answering. The iron had entered into his soul. But in spite of this he still loved his first love, though her name had never again passed his lips, and he hated other women because of her. No other should spurn him, and though many had wished to marry him, he had never asked any. His music was the gainer, for after that people said Frank Weston was inspired in his pathetic movements, and now Toney was going to play with fire.

Frank Weston's face was one not to be easily forgotten. His features seemed to be cut in alabaster, his hair reached his coat collar in soft curling fashion, but there was no affectation about him. He was far too true a genius to descend to small advertisements. Music was his only interest in life, but even a dreamy genius stood no chance with Toney. She piloted him out of the station and both stood by the side of the dog-cart. Frank Weston looked round hopelessly. He could not drive, and looking down at the slight girlish figure he doubted if she could, when he saw Jim holding the thorough-bred. Toney answered his look.

"Oh, yes, I'll drive you. There's a dry place for your violin. You can trust me. This is my own horse and we understand each other. It's awfully good of you to come to us. You don't usually, do you, but I did so particularly want you." Frank Weston gradually took in the situation.

"My agent said a Miss Whitburn--wanted----"

Toney jumped in and he had to follow.

"Yes, that's all right, that's me. When your agent said, 'It will only be a big price that will tempt him,' I said, 'Go ahead!'" Toney spoke so simply that Mr. Weston smiled.

"I may as well own it at once," he said. "It was the money that tempted me. There is a poor friend of mine whose career is cut short in a terrible manner. He has creeping paralysis coming on from over-work. He's too young for the charitable societies to come to his help, so----"

"So you are going to do it! Oh, isn't that lovely! I am glad you told me, I'll just double the fee if that will set him up."

Frank stared at this unusually generous girl.

"Oh, but you are already paying a very heavy fee for--a very short time. I expect you are one of the amateurs who have all the fine feelings of the professional--finer often, because unconnected with public recognition." He lifted his head and smiled, then became conscious that Miss Whitburn was flying along the country roads at a furious pace.

"Oh, gracious stars! don't think so for a moment about me! I don't know one note from another, but I've got a friend who feels all that, at least I suppose so. I do want you to be--sort of friendly with her, because I've got it all up for her."

"All for your friend? How extraordinary!" said the genius, "but, forgive me for asking, is your horse running away? I'm no good with horses." There was a touch of anxiety in his voice. He heard a rippling laugh near him.

"Don't you like it? I'll pull him in, but it's the pace I like! Suppose, Mr. Weston, you were driving with your--say your intended, would you be afraid for her?"

Mr. Weston turned towards Toney with a look of dismayed surprise.

"I--have not--got one--I really can't say."

"I'm awfully glad, I half feared you might be engaged, you know---- People say you are tremendously run after. If you had been, of course I should have asked _her_ too. You don't mind my saying this, do you? I'm only an Australian girl, and out there we don't mince matters so much as people do here, and I once heard that--that you were going to marry a girl and that she----" Toney cleared her throat. She glanced at the genius whose marble-cut face was lifted towards the sky with a hard strange look on it. No one had ever dared to speak to him about that episode since it happened, and here was a strange girl introducing the subject! The very boldness of it put him off his guard.

"You heard rightly, Miss Whitburn; the only woman I ever loved jilted me, because I was not as nobly born as she was, and now----"

"I expect she's just mad with herself that she was so silly! A hundred to one it was her mother, sort of old pussy cat I shouldn't wonder. Why didn't you ask her again? I should if I were a man! I would not take no, not for Joe!" Toney was so excited that she flicked Colon with her whip and he, to show his surprise, suddenly reared and then bolted forward. The genius turned towards his terrible driver in mute appeal.

"It's all right, indeed it is, Colon's as gentle as a child, but I was thinking so much about your young--lady, that I touched him with the whip. He's awfully proud and that was his way of remonstrating. Here's the gate---- Will you hold Colon a minute, or----"

"Let me open the gate," said the genius, suiting the action to the words; not for the world would he have held that horse, his precious Stradivarius was behind him. Toney smiled, but indeed Colon stood quite quietly whilst she remarked,

"I told you he's like a lamb--but you will let me help about your friend? It will give me so muck pleasure, and I shan't feel this concert is wasted if you do."

"If I let you pay twice over?" said the genius, now quite under the spell of this extraordinary heiress, whose generosity was as surprising as her driving.

"If you and my friend don't enjoy this concert--"

"I shall do my best for your friend after your great kindness. Is it--a man?" He believed it was Toney's fiance as her mind ran on that subject, and he felt in a soft mood, though he could not have told why.

"A man! I should think not! Mr. Russell--he helps me with my letters--he's musical, but then he doesn't think much of me!"

"His taste must be bad," said Frank, actually making a compliment. "He would have more confidence in you if you drove him back from the station." Frank Weston had forgiven her and Toney realised it with joy.

"Ouf! Here's Aldersfield House, I'm glad the drive is over. Will you promise, even if you don't like my friend, to take her in to dinner and to talk music to her? She'll love that. The other people wouldn't understand it--and you won't try it on me, will you, or on Uncle Evas? He'd want to be polite, but he wouldn't know what to answer."

"I think you can trust me, Miss Whitburn, not to bore the unmusical. I shall do my best to please your lady friend, because all the time I shall see Arthur Mullins' face when he hears of his luck."

"That's all right! I'm awfully relieved. You'll like to go to your room now at once, won't you, and rest? I'll send you up some tea, and then you won't have to answer foolish questions."

"That would be most kind," he said gratefully. How very extraordinarily thoughtful this young heiress seemed to be.

Toney was saying to herself, "Then they won't meet till dinner-time, and she'll just be looking so beautiful that----"

"Gollywogs!" she exclaimed as she jumped down and Jim came running up, "There's visitors just come. Jim, take Mr. Weston in by the garden door, and tell them to take him to his room and give him tea."

In this way Toney smuggled in the genius and she herself stepped into the hall to find the two Hamiltons there taking their wraps off.

"I am glad you are come early for tea. I'm sure Aunt Dove will want some help about the Peerage. I'm no use at all. If a man has got all his legs and arms, and he has a nice face and lots of genius, I don't care how he came into the world."

Maud laughed, and as Jeanie walked towards the drawing-room Toney seized her.

"Maud, he's come, he's in his room, they won't meet till dinner."

"Oh, Toney!" gasped Maud, "but do you know anything about some lovely dresses that came for us this morning?"

Toney laughed.

"Don't betray me! Pups used to say a general overlooks nothing to win the victory."

*CHAPTER XXII.*

*FAILURE.*

A few select guests were expected at Aldersfield for an early dinner party before the concert. Lady Dove was radiant. She was giving a grand party at which all the honour and none of the expense was going to fall on her. Even Miss Grossman had come in for smiles as she read a novel whilst her ladyship's hair was arranged, and for once punctuality was rewarded, for Lady Southbourne arrived very early with many apologies, which she hoped dear Lady Dove would accept. Her husband and son had gone to town on business and might be a little late, so she had come on first and they would come later in a dog-cart. Lady Dove was charmed.

"It is so kind of you, Lady Southbourne, to come at all this foggy evening. I am always ready early in case a guest does come. My husband and Antonia are usually late, but of course to-day there has been a good deal to arrange. We have turned the barn into a concert-room, and it is really very pretty. I wanted all our friends of North Downshire to come. The country has been a little dull lately."

"Miss Whitburn has told me your party would be a great success. The star's name is a secret, I hear."

"Yes, one of Antonia's little secrets! Of course I never interfere with her plans now she is of age, but I must say I feel rewarded when I look back on the training of the wild colt she was when we first took her, little dreaming of the result."

"It must be an immense pleasure for you--though a girl with money is a responsibility, isn't she?"

"Ah! no one knows how many anxious thoughts I have had on that subject."

"And that was what I really wanted to ask you about, dear Lady Dove. I want your--help and sympathy."

For the great Lady Southbourne to be asking her help and sympathy made Lady Dove happy.

"You can always rely on my help, indeed you can! Mutual help is our greatest duty."

"I need not say that if you have a niece, I have a son to have anxious thoughts about--and I want you to know a little secret."

"Indeed!"

"Yes, but I don't doubt Miss Whitburn has already confided in you. Edward has proposed to her, but----"

"Oh, what an honour for Antonia, but, indeed, Lady Southbourne, yours is a family any girl might be proud to enter! Of course much above her in rank."

"Edward has no foolish ideas about birth, almost a Republican on that subject, but--I see that you do not know Miss Whitburn refused him and Edward is heart-broken."

"Antonia refused the----" Lady Dove gasped.

"She is young, she was startled, but with your help and advice she might--reconsider it. Edward is more bent on it than ever."

If Lady Southbourne had been sitting in the palace of truth she would have said her dear boy had just lost a large sum on the turf.

"Trust me, Lady Southbourne, you shall have my influence, and Antonia owes us so much. I hardly think she will reject so much happiness."

"Thank you a thousand times."

At this moment other guests began to arrive, but where was Antonia and the great man, and where were the Hamiltons? Happily Sir Evas was working hard and making everybody welcome regardless of their place in the peerage.

Edward Lang and his father came in time, belying the fears of Lady Southbourne, and Lady Carew and her correct husband followed. An Honourable or two, and a Colonel and his wife, made up the party of people worthy of meeting each other. Toney had only begged for the Hamiltons, Mr. Hales and Lewis Waycott, but this latter Lady Dove had refused as "that tiresome Miss Waycott would have to be included." For the concert everybody was coming, and a supper was to end this grand party.

But Toney was too much occupied to give a thought to the county magnates. Rose, who came to help her to put on her white dress, was not allowed to stay long.

"I'm all right, Rose; I want you to go to the Miss Hamiltons' room and beg them to come here before going down. I've got them some lovely flowers."

"There's some come for you too, Miss Toney," said Rose, holding out a lovely bunch of white lilies. "It was left at the back door, and was specially to be given to you."

"Oh!" exclaimed Toney. "How lovely; I wonder who sent them. You see, I haven't a young man, Rose."

"Cook said as how you ought to have one, Miss Toney; specially you being so rich now."

Toney paused as she held the flowers lovingly; she always had reverenced flowers. Oh, dear! even the servants associated money with love. It was dreadful! Then she resolutely thrust away thoughts of self, and looked at her two bunches of roses. Then, pinning in her lilies, she waited a little anxiously. Time was flying. She had arranged with the footman to call Mr. Weston at the last moment, and she must get the Hamiltons down before he came. There was a knock at the door, and Jeanie Hamilton stood in the doorway, a vision of beauty in a soft cloud of pale blue silk and chiffon, whilst Maud looked nearly as much transformed in rose.

"Oh!" exclaimed Toney, "how just awfully beautiful you look, Jeanie! May I say it? and here are some flowers I got uncle to steal for you! Let me pin them on."

Jeanie could not help admiring herself, and her spirits rose. Never had she had such a dress.

"Wasn't it generous of Aunt Honoria? It's the most beautiful dress I have ever seen; and, look at Maud, isn't hers pretty too? They must have cost a small fortune."

"You both look perfect."

"We must tell you about the gentleman who took our measure," exclaimed Maud, trying to hide her nervousness by talking. "But, oh, Toney, look at the time; we ought to go down."

"Yes. We'll all go together, and if you go in first Aunt Dove's big-wigs will be so struck of a heap with you that they'll forget me. They do seem so very extra civil to me now, all because I've got so much tin. Oh! they don't know the trouble of it; but in any case I don't stick bank-notes on my clothes, so I can't see why I'm more interesting than I was before. Come, let's run! No, you can't with those clo'."

But all the same, the three girls did run, seeing an anxious look on the butler's face as they entered the hall.

The door was thrown open for them, and, as Toney had predicted, the two Hamiltons made a sensation, especially Jeanie, whose face was so full of pathos, and who looked especially beautiful. Toney crept in behind them, but was seen by her aunt.

"Toney, how dreadfully late you are! The musician--what's his name--has not come down yet. Tell Thomas to fetch him at once." Toney nodded.

"It's all right, Aunt Dove; I've done it. You know musical people are not like others."

Sir Evas knew he had to obey orders, and got hold of Jeanie. He held the list of the other pairs in his hand, but several gentlemen came up to talk to this vision of beauty. Maud kept close to Toney; she could not talk, she could hardly see. What would Jeanie do? and what would he do? Why had Toney done this? How terrible; suppose there was a scene; suppose----

The door flew open and Mr. Frank Weston was announced, but Jeanie was at the other end of the room and did not hear the name.

Toney flew up to the genius and introduced him right and left till dinner was announced; then she paused.

"You remember about--my friend, Mr. Weston?" The genius had bowed right and left in rather a formal manner. He was so often introduced that he barely listened to the names of the people introduced. He was thinking of Miss Whitburn. The big-wigs were pairing off, and solemnly marched away like a regiment of newly-trained recruits, when Sir Evas suddenly introduced him to a lady whose name he did not hear. He held out his arm mechanically; ladies were nothing to him, and he only saw a beautiful dress. A symphony was floating through his brain, he was only acting in a dream, till suddenly he felt the arm he held tremble. He was recalled to earth. They were crossing the hall, and the noise of voices was great Various scraps of conversation about hunting and the weather reached him, and his own name--the great Frank Weston; what a surprise, no one expected him! He looked down and exclaimed--he knew not what.

"Let me go away," she murmured, "you----"

"Impossible! Miss Hamilton, pray remember we are both guests--no one knows. If my presence is so--distasteful to you----"

"I did not know."

"Neither did I--but this chance meeting might have happened anywhere."

"Yes----" Jeanie straightened herself, and they both walked on in silence. They were shown their places, and Frank Weston glanced at the name on his other side; Mrs. Arbuthnot. Jeanie had Colonel Arbuthnot on her other side. They need not speak to each other. How terrible! Jeanie searched for Maud, but she was on the same side and could not be seen. Her heart beat so fast she could hardly speak. She looked for Toney, someone to appeal to. Was she near Frank? Yes, Frank was here, sitting beside her; but of course he hated her. Of course, he was wishing himself miles away; of course, he would _never_ forgive her, never, never love her again. Never--never, she repeated to herself.

Toney's eyes, which saw so much, were looking at them; she could see they were silent, and she noticed they each turned to their other neighbours. Oh! her plan was failing, had failed, and she had risked everything on this dinner. Maud was looking deadly pale, but in spite of all this the talk was loud, drowning nearly everything. Mr. Hales at her side broke the spell.

"You are very preoccupied this evening, and yet you have secured the one man everyone wants to hear," he said. "Are you not satisfied?" His voice had a new tone in it, which made Toney look up wonderingly.

"Oh, yes, I am preoccupied; so would you be if you had conspired tremendously and your conspiracy was no good."

"Indeed!"

"Mr. Hales, help me! Mr. Frank Weston isn't talking one scrap to Jeanie Hamilton."

"He has come to play the violin, and I daresay he is not a good conversationalist."

"It's not that, you don't know her story; he was in love with Jeanie once, and she loved him really, but she sent him away because his father had a shop and sold something, and now she's just frightfully sorry she did it, and--but he doesn't look as if he was forgiving her. What would you do?"

Mr. Hales smiled.

"I should never have hazarded the meeting--never."

"Was I wrong? Oh, but of course she _is_ sorry, and--but I wish they would notice each other. If I were her I should just say I knew I was a born fool when I said no." Mr. Hales laughed.

"I don't think _you_ would ever have said no for that reason!"

"I couldn't, because my father sort of kept a shop; we were always selling drugs. Oh look, Mr. Hales, just out of the corner of your eye, I see Jeanie looking up into his face, and she has just refused oyster patties."

"But do I understand you did all this to--bring them together?"

"Yes. I did so want them to be happy, besides it would make Maud and Mr. Waycott happy."

Mr. Hales was silent. He was considering whether Toney would ever consent herself to say yes to somebody. A dream of a larger sphere of work floated before his mental vision, a dream of a young wife who would devote her money to their work, for in every mission-field money was needed, money and workers. But love seemed very far removed from Toney's ideas at this moment, and so he was silent. Then he asked after the work at the Haven.

"Miss Phipps is doing wonders, and some of my first friends come to-morrow. Two of the _avant garde_ and the deaf man. He has no one to take care of him."

"You will indeed have the blind and the deaf," said Mr. Hales smiling.

"Yes, but I do wish we lived in the days of St. Clare and Sister Ortolana. For when St. Francis sent them to sick people they made the sign of the Cross, and immediately restored them all to health."

"And by their prayers, Toney, I think."

"Yes," answered Toney, "I suppose that's where we fail; but oh, Mr. Hales, I did pray ever so hard about Jeanie and the genius! Do you think--they will make it up? We have come to the cheese and they have said nothing!" Mr. Hales hid a smile.

"Perhaps the music will work the miracle. Don't despair."

"Perhaps it will, though that is a mystery to me. Mr. Hales, you will keep near me, won't you, as I see the Honourable Edward looking at me sideways. I'm so afraid he'll want to talk to me privately."

"But perhaps----"

"Oh no! I couldn't possibly think of it! Besides, I'm afraid it's true what Aunt Dove said. He wants the--money, and you see it would be a dreadful disappointment to hear that it--was not to be had. I thought money might make two people happy, and here are the ices and they haven't yet melted!"

Everyone soon rose to proceed to the barn, and in that interval Toney flew to find the genius.

*CHAPTER XXIII.*

*TEN MINUTES.*

The carriages rolled up to the barn door in quick succession, and Lady Dove did indeed feel proud as she received her guests at the entrance of the fairy bower, now styled the concert-room. Never had such an entertainment been given there by her before, and now a wireless message went round the guests that Frank Weston was the star they had come to hear. Such a treat had not been imagined, for crowned heads had to petition him, not to command. How had he been persuaded to come and give a private concert at Aldersfield House? Words of gratitude were heard on every side.

"How kind of you, Lady Dove! This is an unexpected treat; Lord Dashwood tried in vain to get him! He is very proud and very original. I heard the Emperor of Germany could not get him to play last year. The Germans say we have never had such a genius. Quite a poor man was he? Genius plays strange freaks. They say he can make as much money as he likes--Lady Gwen Steward was dying to marry him they say--but he wouldn't look at her. They say he was once jilted and that turned him into a misogamist."

Lady Dove tried to answer appropriately and was all smiles. She kept Mr. Russell near her, he was so clever and so useful, and Sir Evas was neither!

"How kind of you to come this wet evening. Yes, Mr. Frank Weston is really here, he dined with us--such a charming fellow--genius written all over him"--and so on whilst the crowd rustled into seats. Where was Toney?

Directly dinner was over, Toney flew to find Jim, who was always ready to do her bidding. She interviewed him in the housekeeper's room.